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Prison: Definition, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：a correctional facility (prison)
prison
/ˈprɪzən/
n.
A specific building with walls and bars where the government keeps people who have broken the law or are waiting for their court date.
a correctional facility
➕
/eɪ ˌkɔːrˈekʃənəl fəˈsɪlɪti/
n.
A building or institution where individuals legally convicted of crimes are confined, typically with high security measures such as walls and bars.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'prehensio' (a seizing), via Old French 'prison'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a 'prison' as a 'prize on' your freedom – something that captures and holds you.
📖 Example
The old prison was surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, a stark reminder of the consequences of crime.
The old prison was surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, a stark reminder of the consequences of crime.
🔗 Collocations
in prison – Serving a sentence inside a correctional facility
prison sentence – A court-imposed term of confinement in prison
prison guard – A person employed to supervise prisoners
🔄 Synonyms
jail (n.) – A local facility for temporary confinement or short sentences
penitentiary (n.) – A state or federal prison for long-term confinement of serious offenders
correctional facility (n.) – A formal term for an institution intended to correct and detain criminals
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
imprison (v.) – To put or keep someone in prison
prisoner (n.) – A person confined in a prison
imprisonment (n.) – The state of being in prison
📖 Cultural Story
Originates from Latin 'prehensio' (taking, seizure). In medieval England, prisons held debtors and accused awaiting trial; the modern sense of correctional facility solidified in the 18th century.
Meaning 2：an entrapping situation (prison)
prison
/ˈprɪzən/
n.
Used to describe any situation or condition that makes you feel trapped and not free, like a bad job or a bad habit.
an entrapping situation
➕
/æn ɪnˈtræpɪŋ ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/
n.
A situation or condition that restricts one's freedom or prevents personal growth, such as a restrictive job or a harmful habit.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
He felt his dead-end job was a prison that stopped him from pursuing his real passion for painting.
He felt his dead-end job was a prison that stopped him from pursuing his real passion for painting.
🔗 Collocations
a prison of routine – A life confined by repetitive daily activities
a prison of fear – A state where fear restricts one's choices and actions
a prison of addiction – A condition where addiction traps a person in destructive behavior
🔄 Synonyms
trap (n.) – A situation from which it is difficult to escape
confinement (n.) – The state of being forced to stay within limits, physically or metaphorically
shackles (n.) – Metaphorical restraints that limit freedom or progress
🚫 Antonyms
freedom (n.) – The ability to act or choose without restraint
liberation (n.) – The act of being set free from restrictions
escape (n.) – A way to get out of a confining situation
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